I start my plants indoors, but move them outdoors. If indoor hydro is anything like outdoor in ground, don't overcrowd your plants. Your overall yeilds will be similar (eg less production per individual plant as they get packed in more densely) and the plants will be more susceptible to disease. Indoors, disease would probably be less likely, but the plants will all be competing for resources - especially light, so I expect the impact on yeilds to be consistent.

[–] SchmidtGenetics 1 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (2 children)

That’s the thought I was following, but in this they really wouldn’t be competing for nutrients, the light and everything else is spot on. Theres room for lots of roots, and I can tailor the nutrient mix as they feed more or less on it.

I was leaving multiple in each with the intention of dropping it down to 1 each for 4 plants, but if it can take more, why not.

These aren’t as powerful as natural light, so may need more plants to fill out the tent before they mature and start fruiting.

I should check up the DLI requirements and see if I can make it in the optimal range, should be possible.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 8 months ago (1 children)

If yer not fighting for nutes I always argue for as few plants as possible with a proper “hedge” trim on them.

They’ll grow HUGE if able, so let them fill out

[–] SchmidtGenetics 1 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (1 children)

All it costs is some more money to feed them, but in theory, more nutes more fruits as well.

I mulled it over, I took it down to 4 plants, 1 per net pot. The longer I leave it the harder it’ll be to cull them since the roots would rot out in the reservoir if I can’t get them out.

How would you “hedge” trim them? I believe one Tomatoe strain is determinate and the other isn’t. Is it at all similar to “topping” a cannabis plant? Iirc the two are really similar to grow supposedly.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (1 children)

First off I’d like to have a giggle that I saw your tomato plants and thought “cannabis” … they are cousins after all.

My comment on less plants was because of cannabis growing experience, I like to have a couple plants well spaced and well fed vs a bunch of small plants. That’s my anecdotal experience when chasing potency alone.

Hedge trim refers to how you’d trim a bush/hedge. Remove internal branches and ones that grow towards the stem, kind of in an effort to create a canopy and have very little underneath.

Cannabis and Tomato are similar to grow in how the plant will react to stress and damage and trimming.

I do start tomato plants indoors but I do those in peat pots and let them grow all together until planting outdoors, so I’m unsure how you’d grow them indoors in your setup.

You’re officially more knowledgeable on this than me now so … you’re the master 🤣

[–] SchmidtGenetics 2 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago)

This is my veg tent that will have some cannabis plants under it before going to the nice light haha.

She’s a little dense I know, that’s only two, and they looked like this when I flipped.

Figured this could be some practice and experimenting on the side. Couple months ago I had some peppers that I yolod. The one actually bushed and stopped growing, the other just fucked off. I just don’t know how those types of plants grow indoors, and maybe someone has some experience, never know unless you ask eh?

[–] IMALlama 3 points 8 months ago (1 children)

If those are normal tomato plants (eg not dwarfs) they will grow to be massive. Easily 6+ feet tall and a few feet wide each. I Florida weave my plants, and live in zone 6 which caps their lifespan, and things like cherry tomatoes will grow to be 8 feet tall if you let them.

Also start thinking about how you're going to support them. Getting supports in after the plants fill that space will be difficult.

[–] SchmidtGenetics 2 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago)

Iirc they are a cherry and San marzano? One determinate, the other isn’t. I’ve got some trellis netting, but may also figure out if I can get a cage on them somehow too.

I’ve already culled them down to 4 plants this morning.